Shopper Janet Bond posted a photo on her Facebook page that she said was taken Tuesday at the Florence grocery, showing two prices for Kroger brand chunk light tuna in oil.

In one photo posted online, the retailer advertised a new low price of 74 cents per can. In a photo posted alongside that one, the old price is shown as 69 cents per can. Bond's post was then shared more than 100 times by her friends and others.

"I would appreciate a valid explanation as to why, as you'll see in the photo I've posted with this comment, your new 'Lower price' on grocery items is actually higher than the previous sticker price," Bond said. "Your cans of tuna are higher now than they were before you promised new store-wide reductions."

A representative replied to the post about an hour later, thanking Bond for bringing the issue to the store's attention and promising an investigation.

Kroger spokeswoman Rachel Betzler told WLWT that the 69-cent tag had been valid through Aug. 27, when the price was raised 20 cents due to a general cost increase incurred by the grocery.

The price was recently cut by 15 cents, she said, to the 74-cent, "low price" cost shown on the tag.

Betzler said the 69-cent tag should have been removed months ago.

"Unfortunately, I can see what it looks like (to shoppers)," Betzler said.

Kroger announced last week that prices will drop March 1 on about 3,500 items in a variety of products as part of its new, "lower price" category.

At the same time, the practice of doubling coupons will come to an end. Kroger has long doubled coupons up to 50 cents in value. The chain has previously ended the practice in some other parts of the country.

Those "lower price" rates will remain in place for weeks or months, Betzler said, until possible cost increases might necessitate price changes.

She also said the stores will continue to advertise limited-time "sale prices" on some items.